Federal Correctional Institution - Memphis

Federal Correctional Institution - Memphis, or FCI Memphis, is a medium-security federal prison for male offenders located in Memphis, Tennessee. It also has an adjacent minimum-security satellite camp and detention center (FDC). There are currently 1,286 total inmates at the facility, with 1,039 at the FCI and FDC and 247 at the camp.

Inmates at FCI Memphis are housed in two-person cells, and those at the camp are housed in dormitories that have two-person and four-person cubicles.

In 2012, an investigation by the FBI and Bureau of Prisons found that several inmates were operating a marijuana ring from the prison that spanned three states - Tennessee, Louisiana, and Texas.

According to authorities, inmate Mark Evans received shipments of marijuana through the prison kitchen (brought in by Deborah Thompson, a corrupt food services employee) and then sold it for up to $900 an ounce to other inmates.

The inmates would purchase the marijuana by sending money orders to Evans’ wife, a marijuana wholesaler in Shreveport, Louisiana, who then turned them into cash and gave the money to family members in Texas.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at FCI Memphis are on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

At the camp, visiting hours are on Saturdays and Sundays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

The maximum number of adult visitors an inmate may have at one time is four, but there is no limit on children. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Getting on the Approved Visit List

Authorized visitors who can visit an inmate include family, friends, and associates. You can't visit an inmate unless he puts you on the visiting list.

Everyone must fill out a visitor form, and they must have a relationship with the inmate prior to incarceration. If a potential visitor does not have a prior relationship with the inmate, their request will be reviewed by the warden.

Once the inmate requests to add someone to their visit list, a correctional counselor will provide them with a visiting form, and the inmate is responsible for mailing these out and letting the potential visitor know that they need to fill out the form and return it to the institution staff.

The unit team will do a background check and determine if a visitor application is approved. They make their decision based on constructive and security factors. The process takes about a week, and the unit staff will notify the inmate when the requested visitor is approved or refused.

It is the inmate’s responsibility to notify the visitor of the decision, and the process is the same for both adult and minor visitors.

Basic Visit Procedures and Rules

If you are 16 years of age or older, you must bring a valid photo ID with you to the visit, like a state or federal ID card, driver's license, or current passport. Birth certificates are not valid forms of ID.

All visitors are subject to a visual and pat search by an officer. You will also be scanned by a metal detector.

Any item you bring into the facility will be opened and searched by a staff member, and anyone who refuses a search of themselves or their property will not be allowed to visit with the inmate.

Items such as jackets, coats, sweaters, hats shoes, watches, and belts are subject to search. Packages, handbags, baby strollers, and other items are not permitted in the Visiting Room.

Visitors will be allowed to bring keys, i.e., car and/or house keys into the visiting room.

Items such as cell phones, pagers, cameras, pagers, and hand bags are not authorized in the visiting room.

Required medications should be taken either prior to entering the visiting room or at the conclusion of the visit. Items needed for health reasons will only be allowed at the discretion of the Operations Lieutenant.

Items for infant needs that are allowed in the visiting room include: three (3) diapers; two (2) small jars of baby food; three (3) baby bottles with contents; one (1) receiving blanket; one (1) package of baby wipes; one (1) change of infant clothing and one (1) see-through drinking cup.

All permissible items must be inspected for contraband prior to permitting them in the Visiting Room. Visitors refusing to have these items inspected must return them to their automobiles.

There are no storage areas located within the Front Entrance, so all items prohibited in the Visiting Room must be stored in the visitor's automobile. No items will be left in the Front Entrance or with any staff member.

Visitors failing to comply with either of these options will be denied entrance into the institution.

Visitors are not allowed to bring any money into the FCI Visiting Room. A debit card may be purchased in the amount of five dollars ($5.00) in the Front Lobby of the FCI prior to entering the Visiting Room to purchase items from the vending machines.

No food may be brought into the visiting room. No items may be exchanged in the Visiting Room between visitors and inmates. Visitors are not allowed to bring in or give anything to an inmate during the visit.

SPC's visitors are allowed to bring money into the Visiting Room to be used to purchase items from the vending machines. Visitors are only allowed to possess the amount of twenty dollars ($20.00) in coins during visitation.

Visitors who exhibit signs of recent use of alcohol (i.e., odor, confusion, loss of balance) or otherwise display inappropriate behavior will not be permitted to visit.

The dress code is as follows:

All garments must have sleeves. See-through garments, skin-tight clothing, low cut shirts or blouses, wraparound skirts and shorts of any kind are not permitted.

Skirts and dresses must be longer than two inches above the knee. Slits in skirts or dresses will not extend higher than two inches above the knee.

Tee shirts, Jogging/Sweat suits, camouflage clothing and open toe shoes are not permitted.

Articles of clothing displaying any wording or pictures deemed vulgar or offensive are not permitted.

The Operations Lieutenant in concurrence with the Institution Duty Officer has the authority to terminate any visit due to improper dress.

There is no limit on the amount of mail that inmates receive, but all correspondence must have the inmate’s complete name, registration number, facility name, and address.

You can only send cards or letters to these addresses. Paperback books, newspapers, and magazines must come directly from the publisher via a subscription or mail order.

Inmates cannot receive packages through the mail, with the exception of a package of release day clothing. You can't send the release day package until 30 days prior to the scheduled release date.

How to Call an Inmate

Federal inmates are not allowed to have cellphones and they can't receive inbound calls. They can make outbound calls during approved hours, and they must pay for them with the money that is on their personal account or call collect.

Inmates will use TRULINCS to call to both landline and cell phones. This is also how inmates are able to send and receive emails. Your number must be added to the contact list for approval.

All phone calls are limited to 15 minutes, and will be monitored and recorded.

How to Send Money

Sending money is one of most important things you can do for an inmate. The prison will issue each prisoner the minimum amount of clothing and hygiene items, and provide them with three meals a day. But, it is extremely difficult for prisoners to have any level of comfort when living with just the items that are prison-issued.

Inmates can receive outside funds while incarcerated at a BOP-managed facility, which are deposited into their commissary accounts.

Postal Service

For federal prisoners, you can send money through the United States Postal Service by MONEY ORDER to the following address:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
Inmate Name
Eight-Digit Register Number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

Send the funds to the address above. Replace the second line with the inmate's valid, full committed name. Replace the third line with the inmate's eight digit register number.

Never send money directly to the prison. If you are using the postal service, you must always send your money order to the bureau of prisons using the above address.

MoneyGram

You can send an inmate funds electronically using MoneyGram's Express Payment Program.To send funds using this method, please read and follow these steps carefully:

• Wait until an inmate has physically arrived at FCI Memphis.
• Gather the information you'll need. Which includes the inmate’s name and number.
• Visit moneygram.com to complete your payment.

Information needed to complete MoneyGram payment:

• Account Number: Inmate's eight-digit register number with no spaces or dashes, followed immediately by the inmate's last name (example: 12345678DOE).
• Company Name: Federal Bureau of Prisons
• City & State: Washington, DC
• Receive Code is always: 7932
• Beneficiary: Inmate's full committed name

Western Union

If you would like to see a sample Western Union form click here. On their website, they have a special form for sending money to inmates, and you go directly to it by clicking here.

You will need to know the inmate’s full name and number, and you can pay with a debit or credit card at westernunion.com. Remember, any time you send money to an inmate you must always include their name and registration number on everything.

There are a few things that inmates can spend their money on. This includes phone calls, emails, and commissary.  The commissary is the prison store, where inmates can buy things like beverages, meals and snacks, OTC medications, stationary, personal hygiene items, clothing, or other miscellaneous products.

Please be aware that prisoners have their own economy inside the prison walls just like we do in the real world. Inmates that have a lot of money can do a lot of things both legal and illegal. Prisoners can potentially use the money in their account to buy things for other inmates in exchange for drugs and paraphernalia. This activity is illegal and can get an inmate in a lot of trouble.

Is important to keep track of how much money you are sending your incarcerated loved one, and watch out for any suspicious behavior.

The monthly spend limit at FCI Memphis is $360 per inmate.

​Programs For ​Inmates

• Drug Abuse Education Course
• Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
• Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP)
• Narcotics Anonymous
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Literacy
• Pre-GED, GED, and Spanish GED
• Parenting Program
• Pre-Release Program
• High School Diploma (via paid correspondence)
• Post-Secondary Programs (via paid correspondence)
• Adult continuing education courses
• FCI Memphis and the camp has advanced occupational education classes in Logistics/Transportation Management and Quality Assurance and Supervision. Building Trades is also available at the FCI only
• Both FCI Memphis and the camp offer apprenticeships in in Career Development Technician, Carpenter (Maintenance), Cook (Hotel and Restaurant), Dental Assistant, Electrician, HVAC, Landscape Gardener, and Teacher Aide
• FCI Memphis offers apprenticeships in Drafter (Architectural), Electronics Tester, Machinist, Maintenance Electrician, Painter, Plumber, Purchasing Agent, and Quality Control Technician
• The camp offers apprenticeships in Engraver, Golf Course Management, Printer-Slotter and Operator, and Welder (Combination)
• UNICOR factory that produces and services electronic cable assemblies and a printing operation
• Intramural sports (softball, basketball, volleyball, flag football, and soccer)
• Wellness programs for health and fitness (structured classes, exercise programs, and fitness clubs)
• Hobby Craft Program that provides tools, a work room and instruction in various crafts including leather craft, woodworking, painting, and beading

Pictures of Federal Correctional Institution - Memphis

Careers at Federal Correctional Institution - Memphis

If you are interested in pursuing a career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, you can find available positions at FCI Memphis by visiting USAJobs.gov. The salaries at the facility begin around $40,000 and can go up into the six-figure range, depending on the position.

Reviews from employees at FCI Memphis say that it is a great place to work and has tons of opportunities for advancement. The work-life balance is above average, and the salary and benefits are considered to be the best part of being employed with the Bureau of Prisons.